News

TTAI expands; 100 new jobs added

Pulaski County’s largest manufacturing plant has without fanfare expanded its sprawling complex and is in the process of installing new equipment and adding new team members.

Toyotetsu America Inc. (TTAI), the face of Valley Oak Commerce Complex, has just completed a 90,000-square-foot addition and is hiring 100 new employees to join its already nearly 1,000 team members. Valley Oak Commerce Complex is located off Ky. 461.

“Actual (employee) head count (at TTAI) as of Wednesday was 976, and 100 new team members added by June will run the number well over 1,000,” said Donnie Slagle, vice president of TTAI.

Slagle, a native Pulaski countian, has been with TTAI for 20 years.

“TTAI has 1 million square feet under roof,” Slagle pointed out. The 90,000 square feet of new space is complete and “ ... additional equipment will be installed and up and running by June,” Slagle noted.

TTAI has expanded 10 times during the past 20 years and the area under roof is five times larger than the original 200,000 square feet.

TTAI makes metal stamped and welded automobile assemblies. “Majority of parts made at this (Somerset) plant goes to Toyota at Georgetown,” said Slagle. “But we also make parts for Nissan and Subaru,” he noted. About 100 trucks a day enter and leave TTAI, either picking up parts or making deliveries...